Sub-Human

I agree - elections are a major fraud by Putler and his gang. However! It cannot be ignored that Nemtsov had all the legal ground to become a presidential candidate. In fact, he could secure himself a seat in the Federal Duma by next year without making so much as a speech. This would mean - diplomatic immunity, federal funding, more political power, and most importantly, media exposure. As a member of parliament he would be allowed (without question) onto political debates. He would get access to documents where the police or the ministry can no longer say, 'we don't hand out this information'. And unless Russian government would create a law which applies to one citizen only - Boris Nemtsov - they would have only one other way of stopping him. (Speaking of which - after Nemtsov got a seat in the regional Duma, the Russian government did change the law. And thus Navalny and co. didn't 'qualify' for a seat in Moscow Duma). He probably wouldn't win the election. But what effect would this have on Russian people? Opposition member showing real troubles, amidst growing economic and social crisis? Before, during and after the 2012 elections there was lots of flak on Russian government, Putin did not have the same support. The people knew election was a fraud. Russian government even began co-operating with opposition for a short time. Putin decided to not take any chances.

Nemtsov was the only opposition leader in the country able to participate in presidential elections. And considering his popularity within the region where he held a seat in the parliament, and large follower base on social networks - he would be, for the first time in Putin's reign, an actual political opponent.

Before his death, Nemtsov received a phonecall from a group of Russian paratroopers (98th division of VDV, based around the Ivanovskaya Oblast). They claimed - 17 dead paratroopers in their unit, they weren't getting paid (presumably for action in Ukraine) and they were afraid of contacting anyone. In the picture is a note he left after the alleged phonecall. Plus below a rather humorous attempt at a 'threat' from 'Chechen spetsnaz'. http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/avmalgin/6046593/1661983/1661983_original.png (358 kB)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOuqCZO9jV4 Interesting analysis of the crime. * Presence of snow-cleaning machine during a day when there was no snow? * Snow-cleaning machine changing its speed according to the walking pace of the killer? * Snow-cleaning machine at first covering killer from dashcams of approaching cars. Then suddenly changes speeds, and covers murder scene. * Getaway car going behind the flow of cars. * Same snow-cleaning machine appears on this bridge 6 minutes after the murder, going backwards. This was planned and carried out so perfectly. Knowing exactly when Nemtsov shows up on the bridge - Knowing exactly when the flow of cars would show up - Knowing exactly at which moment the snow-cleaning machine and the getaway car should appear. At least several teams with sophisticated communication and definitely not amateur training. And all this in one of the most FSO-dense area in Russia.

More history revision from Putin: (Moscow Times) Russia's Gulag Museum Shuts Doors Amid Mounting State Pressure

Kadyrov is the only one that I can think of. There was a number of pro-Putin murders, but in (or related to) Chechnya and Ingushetia areas - where Muslim radicals continue to operate. Of course I find the 'angry Chechen Muslim' theory towards Nemtsov completely unlikely.

Interview with Russian tank soldier burned in Ukraine (graphic, Russian) The worst part - this soldier, with no face, no arms, says he doesn't 'mind' Putin. Once again, Russian society shows itself as completely apathetic to what goes on within the country.

It's the same guy, if anything the racial comments are coming from you. You don't need a PHD in Cultural Studies to tell if someone's identical or not.

Well, first of all, 500 thousand and 50 thousand people are on a completely different scale. There was nowhere near to half a million present on the march. Second, I believe Moscow police said there were 7 thousand present, so they have already 'downplayed' it. It's embarassing, a city like Paris (with a third of Moscow's population) got a million people, in the memory of four journalists. It is a very sad, but true picture of Russian society today - complete apathy and brainwashing.

According to statistics, only 51 thousand came. This is embarassing, surely Moscow can field 500 thousand, for the death of one of the brightest political activists and personas in modern Russia. The people are truly brainwashed.

Putin is a small man with many inferiority complexes. Nemtsov has called him 'fecked in the head', commented his size (both physically and politically). He was planning on writing a book on war in the Ukraine. Don't think of Putin as a rational man. For all we know - he had enough of these insults and laughs (as he received during school) and decided to get rid of Nemtsov once and for all. Nemtsov was a leader. In fact, Yeltsin wanted him to be the heir instead of Putin, but Nemtsov was pushing for economic reforms and got into odds with other politicians, who just wanted to steal money from the treasury. He was largely responsible for founding the current anti-corruption movement, exposing Putin's mansions, jets, yachts. Navalny, although a significant figure, simply does not have the experience. Two factors, really: 1) No real opposition that the people know about (from their TVs). There's the Putin, and... who else? If you started broadcasting the opinions of anti-Putinists on national channels, you would likely see a large change in those numbers. 2) Russians believe their Kiselev programs. They think Obama began Maidan to start a proxy war against Putin, there's a freemason conspiracy against great Russian people in the face of Jewish bankers and CIA agents, and that Ukrainian fascists incinerate Russian speakers. What? Does it feel good to get paid to write this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV8xqrWaqUQ This was in 2002. This was a year ago. Putin suddenly consults BBC and CNN before he makes his decision?

Since when does Putin care about international media?

What political suicide? Kiselev-TV will just say it is Western mercenaries, as our friend Spooky Lynx already believes. Or Ukrainian nationalists. And the people who truly believe this, are in my opinion are a part of the murder as much as Putin and the thugs he hired. I will explain to you, as your brain seems to be struggling with a couple very simple facts (nothing new coming from a vata): First news of Nemtsov's death comes in Russian networks around 30 minutes after he was shot. Immediately social networkers (which is where I got it from) start spreading links. Western newsites make first articles with information from Twitter, Facebook... Then they make full reports. Is there conspiracy in this too? Idiot?

Finland. Russia did not get to occupy this country. Do I need to give you HDI, average wage, education, corruption, healthcare, crime ranks comparison? Or would you rather not embarrass yourself? Also, Timchenko, a vocal Putler supporter, has his money saved in that little country that Russia did not occupy. He even has a little house (little by Putin standards). Do I need to continue?

Unfortunately for Putin, you cannot write it off as 'armed robbery' - men drove up to him in a car, shot four times, then quickly escaped. It is obvious assassination. In the true style of the cynical Russian government, Peskov said that Nemtsov 'was no threat to Putin politically'. Just like in 2006, when Putin said Politkovskaya 'has little influence on Russia politically'. Like with every other political crime, Putin will smirk and offer his condolences and an 'investigation' that gets shelved once the press moves on.

BORIS NEMTSOV KILLED! ANOTHER POLITICAL ASSASSINATION BY PUTIN!!!! http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150228/1018865497.html

Mikhail Khodarkovsky makes a speech in London: Russia Under Putin and Beyond

With the influx of modern-era mods, I think it's time to ask the community how they feel about 2035.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfoYdHRa8Jg#t=37 More proof that Anti-Maidan is another forced demonstration (in this scenario, the student holding the poster 'These men should go to jail', doesn't even know who they are - and admits being forced to go by university).

For Russia - that's a lot of people. Most are completely apathetic. Not supporting of Putin, maybe, but definitely not an active opposition.

This protest is staged (save for a couple skinheads and LDPR trash) - for example, Russian teachers are forced to attend. https://navalny.com/p/4135/ The Education and Science Workers' Union emailed a document to most Moscow schools, with a rather comic statement: This reminds me of the 2011 Russia protests - university students were threatened with being kicked out if they attended any of the rallies. Likewise, employees were under the risk of being fired. This time, the roles are reversed.

Yesterday, again, Navalny arrested for 15 days. Putin critic Alexei Navalny given 15-day jail sentence This is very convient, as next week a massive protest is planned in Moscow (and several other Russian cities).

Mainly, it's because Ukraine continues to sell off its armaments. In 2012 it was #4 top arms exporter in the WORLD, behind USA, Russia and China. Ukrainian soldiers are sent to the frontlines with bare hands whilst all the equipment is sold off to the highest bidder. And Poroshenko will never win this war unless he starts a heavy anti-corruption campaign. Or USA makes sure any of its lethal aid isn't immediately written off to an African warlord. And I have big doubts that the Russian government would give a bunch of miners, and 'volunteers' (mostly blue-collars from Russia) a 2012 tank modification. More than likely - these are used by actual Russian tank divisions.

Unfortunately this so-called 'ceasefire', is another appeasement to Putler and the Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Forcing the ceasefire after three days (and not immediately, like it was in the September Minsk agreements) was clearly a move to allow Russian soldiers and separatists to try and capture Debaltsevo, and pulling back heavy artillery hurts Ukraine unproportionally to the 'rebels'.